Formed in 1963 in Muswell Hill, North London, they first gained prominence on the heels of the well-received and highly influential single "You Really Got Me" (1964). The group originally consisted of lead singer/guitarist Ray Davies, his brother lead guitarist Dave Davies, drummer Mick Avory, and bassist Pete Quaife. Quaife left (twice) in the late 1960s, and Avory finally left in 1984 as the result of a long-running dispute with Dave Davies, leaving only the Davies brothers as the core of the original group.
With Ray Davies' songwriting skills and unabashedly English voices, Dave Davies' impressive guitar work, and Avory's tight and steady drumming, the band became one of the best and most influential groups of British pop and the "British Invasion" of the U.S.A., lasting longer than any of their competitors, apart from the Rolling Stones, as they broke up in 1996. Their catalogue of songs has been covered by Van Halen, The Pretenders, The Black Keys, The Stranglers, Queens of the Stone Age , and many more.
Members:
Ray Davies – vocals, rhythm guitar (1963–1996)
Dave Davies – lead guitar, vocals (1963–1996)
Pete Quaife – bass guitar (1963–1969)
John Dalton – bass guitar (1969–1976)
Andy Pyle – bass guitar (1976–1978)
Jim Rodford – bass guitar (1978–1996)
Mick Avory – drums (1963–1984)
Bob Henrit – drums (1984–1996)
John Gosling – keyboards, piano (1970–1978)
Gordon Edwards – keyboards, piano (1978–1979)
Ian Gibbons – keyboards, piano (1979–1989, 1993–1996)
Mark Haley – keyboards, piano (1989–1993)
Afternoon Tea
The Kinks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At night I lie awake and dream of Donna
I think about that small cafe
That's where we used to meet each day
And then we used to sit a while
And drink our afternoon tea
I'll take afternoon tea (afternoon tea)
You take as long as you like
Cause I like you, girl
I take sugar with tea (afternoon tea)
You take milk if you please (afternoon tea)
Like you talking to me
Because you ease my mind
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Tea time still ain't the same without my Donna
At night I lie awake and dream of Donna
I went to our cafe one day
They said that Donna walked away
You'd think at least she might have stayed
To drink her afternoon tea
I'll take afternoon tea (afternoon tea)
If you take it with me (afternoon tea)
You take as long as you like
'cause I like you, girl
I take afternoon tea (afternoon tea)
Every day of the week (afternoon tea)
Please come along if you like
Because I like you, girl
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
The Kinks' "Afternoon Tea" is a sentimental song about a man who reminisces about his love interest, Donna, and the small café where they used to meet every day for afternoon tea. Robert Greenfield, the author of "The Kinks: A Thoroughly English Phenomenon," believed that the song's lyrics are deeply personal and autobiographical, reflecting the memories that Ray Davies, the lead vocalist and songwriter, had with a woman named Julie while he was studying art school in London.
The singer of the song suggests that tea time won't be the same without Donna, emphasizing the importance of the routine they had before she left. He even dreams of her at night and thinks about the cozy café where they used to spend time together. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and nostalgia towards Donna and their time together. The song's chorus, which repeats the phrase "I take afternoon tea if you take it with me," represents the singer's desperate plea for Donna to return, and for their memories to be repeated.
Despite its upbeat melody, "Afternoon Tea" is a poignant track that highlights the emotional significance of seemingly simple moments, such as sharing a cup of tea with someone you care about. In essence, the song is an ode to the bittersweet experience of missing someone and the hope of potentially reconnecting.
Line by Line Meaning
Tea time won't be the same without my Donna
The singer misses Donna and feels like their tea time won't be as enjoyable without her.
At night I lie awake and dream of Donna
Donna is always on the singer's mind, even when they're trying to sleep.
I think about that small cafe
The singer thinks about the cafe where they used to meet Donna and have tea together.
That's where we used to meet each day
The cafe was a regular meeting place for the artist and Donna.
And then we used to sit a while
The artist and Donna would sit and talk for a bit after getting their tea.
And drink our afternoon tea
The singer and Donna would enjoy tea together in the afternoon.
I'll take afternoon tea (afternoon tea)
The singer is inviting someone to have afternoon tea with them.
If you take it with me (afternoon tea)
The artist wants someone to share the experience of having afternoon tea with them.
You take as long as you like
The artist is okay with the other person taking their time during the afternoon tea.
Cause I like you, girl
The artist enjoys spending time with the person they're inviting to have afternoon tea.
I take sugar with tea (afternoon tea)
The singer likes putting sugar in their tea.
You take milk if you please (afternoon tea)
The artist doesn't mind if the other person puts milk in their tea.
Like you talking to me
The singer enjoys having a conversation with the person they're inviting to have afternoon tea.
Because you ease my mind
The singer feels comfortable and relaxed around the person they're inviting to have afternoon tea with them.
Tea time still ain't the same without my Donna
Even though the singer is inviting someone else to have afternoon tea, they still miss Donna's company.
I went to our cafe one day
The artist went to the cafe where they used to have tea with Donna.
They said that Donna walked away
The artist found out that Donna is no longer around to have tea with them.
You'd think at least she might have stayed
The singer is surprised that Donna didn't even stay to have tea before leaving.
To drink her afternoon tea
The singer imagines Donna might have stayed to have afternoon tea if she was still around.
Every day of the week (afternoon tea)
The artist enjoys having afternoon tea every day, not just on special occasions.
Please come along if you like
The artist is inviting someone else to have afternoon tea with them.
Because I like you, girl
The artist enjoys spending time with the person they're inviting to have afternoon tea, just like they enjoyed spending time with Donna.
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
These lines are part of the refrain of the song and are used to transition between verses.
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
These lines are part of the refrain of the song and are used to transition between verses.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
River Cristanch
Tea time won't be the same without my Donna
At night I lie awake and dream of Donna
I think about that small cafe
That's where we used to meet each day
And then we used to sit a while
And drink our afternoon tea
I'll take afternoon tea (afternoon tea)
If you take it with me (afternoon tea)
You take as long as you like
'Cause I like you, girl
I take sugar with tea (afternoon tea)
You take milk if you please (afternoon tea)
Like you talking to me
Because you ease my mind
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Tea time still ain't the same without my Donna
At night I lie awake and dream of Donna
I went to our cafe one day
They said that Donna walked away
You'd think at least she might have stayed
To drink her afternoon tea
I'll take afternoon tea (afternoon tea)
If you take it with me (afternoon tea)
You take as long as you like
'Cause I like you, girl
I take afternoon tea (afternoon tea)
Every day of the week (afternoon tea)
Please come along if you like
Because I like you, girl
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
비정한세상
Tea time won't be the same without my Donna
At night I lie awake and dream of Donna
I think about that small cafe
That's where we used to meet each day
And then we used to sit a while
And drink our afternoon tea
I'll take afternoon tea (afternoon tea)
If you take it with me
You take as long as you like
'Cause I like you, girl
I take sugar with tea (afternoon tea)
You take milk if you please (afternoon tea)
Like you talking to me
Because you ease my mind
Tea time still ain't the same without my Donna
At night I lie awake and dream of Donna
I went to our cafe one day
They said that Donna walked away
You'd think at least she might have stayed
To drink her afternoon tea
I take afternoon tea (afternoon tea)
Every day of the week (afternoon tea)
Please come along if you like
Because I like you, girl
Stephen Reed
Tea time won't be the same without my Donna
At night I lie awake and dream of Donna
I think about that small cafe
That's where we used to meet each day
And then we used to sit a while
And drink our afternoon tea
I'll take afternoon tea (afternoon tea)
If you take it with me (afternoon tea)
You take as long as you like
'Cause I like you, girl
I take sugar with tea (afternoon tea)
You take milk if you please (afternoon tea)
Like you talking to me
Because you ease my mind
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Tea time still ain't the same without my Donna
At night I lie awake and dream of Donna
I went to our cafe one day
They said that Donna walked away
You'd think at least she might have stayed
To drink her afternoon tea
I'll take afternoon tea (afternoon tea)
If you take it with me (afternoon tea)
You take as long as you like
'Cause I like you, girl
I take afternoon tea (afternoon tea)
Every day of the week (afternoon tea)
Please come along if you like
Because I like you, girl
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba (afternoon tea)
observer17
The Kinks were genius. Underlying comedy and sarcasm and social awareness. Brilliant lyrics and music writing and playing..
Myrrhine Grossi
Oh yes. Really cool and so british. My favourite band for all these reasons, music, lyrics , voices.
Eetu Etholen
Ray's a Genius
Myrrhine Grossi
@Eetu Etholen Ray did The Kinks. He is a genius. The best songwriter
Vilma RdM
So simple, so perfect this song. Only Ray could do this.
Colby Kambeitz
That bass line is killer
Viviana Morales
Este álbum es una joya! Es encantador.
Andrew Philip
Hilarious. This was 1967 and while everyone else was singing about peace, flowers and LSD the Kinks were singing about sipping afternoon tea. How brave they were to be so uncool.
Brian Ellis
Most Brits including the Beatles Stones and others were raised having tea and had no problem acting normal about it instead of being pretentious - I like that
Harry Roberts
The Rutles were taking biscuits too 🍌✌